Main visits of jewish heritage in Morocco

In addition to its picturesque landscapes and bustling markets, Morocco is also home to hundreds of amazing Jewish heritage sites that are either under the protection of the Moroccan government and king or listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Jews may be apprehensive about visiting a Muslim country, but beautiful Morocco is not only safe, it is welcoming. Despite the decline in the Moroccan Jewish population after the creation of Israel, Jews have continued to live here, eating kosher food, attending Jewish schools and visiting one of the many synagogues.

Visit a country that has enjoyed the influence of Jewish life for centuries, incorporating it into its very fiber. Most Moroccan cities have a Jewish quarter (or Mellah), and many have been the birthplace of some of our most prominent rabbis and Kabbalists. What other country offers a touch of Arabia, a touch of Africa, the starry Sahara Desert (with a luxurious tented camp experience), a beautiful Sephardic presence and a gentle, welcoming population? Come to Morocco and feel the magic for yourself.

Jewish culture has been interwoven throughout Morocco for centuries. INCOMING MOROCCO offers a golden opportunity for Jewish travelers to discover the stories of Jewish Mellahs, a vibrant Jewish community, synagogues, Andalusian and Moorish architecture, beautiful landscapes, tombs and holy sites, and the only Jewish museum in the Islamic world.

With the collaboration of the best kosher caterer and the best Jewish guides, your trip to Morocco will be one to remember.

Here are the main heritage sites to visit during your stay in Morocco

Jewish Synagogues

Temple Beth-El in Casablanca

Casablanca is home to the largest Jewish population in Morocco, and Temple Beth-El is certainly the centerpiece of this Jewish community. With its impressive stained glass windows, it is one of the city’s most famous historical treasures.

Ibn Dannon Synagogue in Fez

The city of Fez had a large Jewish community in the 17th century. It is not surprising, then, that the Ibn Dannon Synagogue is the most famous Jewish site in the city. With the help of American Express and the World Monuments Fund, the synagogue was renovated about 20 years ago.

The Slat Lazama Synagogue in Marrakech

Follow a narrow street to find the tiny blue and white Lazama Synagogue in Marrakech. Originally built in the 15th century, this beautiful synagogue has a lovely riad-style courtyard.

Chaim Pinto Synagogue in Essaouira

Although the Jewish community is no longer active in Essaouira, the beautiful Chaim Pinto Synagogue is still in operation. It is used when groups of Jewish tourists and pilgrims visit Essaouira.

Jewish Museums

The Museum of Moroccan Judaism in Casablanca

Did you know that Morocco is home to the only Jewish museum in the Muslim world? Established in 1997 by the Jewish community of Casablanca, the museum houses Torah scrolls, Hanukkah menorahs, old synagogue photos, oil lamps and gold-embroidered Moroccan caftans. You will also find many traditional costumes and other objects of Jewish-Moroccan cultural heritage.

Jewish Mellah

Casablanca

The Casablanca mellah is a good place to start your journey into Jewish heritage. With its community centers, kosher restaurants and Jewish day schools, the city is home to the vast majority of Morocco’s Jewish population.

Fez

Often described as a labyrinth within walls, the mellah of Fez is the oldest mellah in all of Morocco. Dating back to the 15th century, it offers dozens of interesting sites, including 400-year-old tombstones and the 17th-century Ibn Danan synagogue.

Meknes

Because the old mellah was built on a sloping gorge, the Jewish community and the Berdugo family decided to build a new mellah in the 1920s. The first houses and the Rabbi Yeoushoua synagogue were built in the late 1920s, while the Talmud Torah was completed in 1930. Today, the mellah attracts groups of Jewish tourists and is renowned for its distinctive architecture.

Marrakech

According to the 1947 census, there were more than 50,000 Jews in Marrakech. Today there are less than 100, but the old Jewish quarter is an exciting place to visit. From herbal and spice stores to jewelry and handicraft vendors, there is much to look forward to on a visit to the Marrakech mellah. You’ll find many tourists from Israel.

Essaouira

The mellah of Essaouira has become a popular place of pilgrimage for thousands of descendants of Moroccan Jews. This is not surprising since the Jewish community was the second largest population in the city.